Chapter 5

Dungeon Food Truck Owner - Chapter 4 (5/302)

Dungeon Food Truck Owner Chapter 4

"Looks delicious…."

While cooking is very enjoyable, the happiness of tasting the food you've made is even greater.

With a fluttering heart, Ji-eun took a big bite of the sandwich she picked up.

'Crunch.'

The satisfying sound was accompanied by the remaining ingredients, tightly packed, blending together in her mouth.

Especially the generous amount of her favorite eggs and bacon, along with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, created a taste that was simply fantastic.

<How can you eat all by yourself, you selfish person!>

"Choke…."

Ji-eun, who was enjoying her first happy moment since her awakening, glared at the speaker that made the sound, interrupting her joy.

"I'm eating alone because I'm the only one here!"

<At least you could invite me to eat with you, right? Are you really Korean? You have no heart, no heart!>

"Excuse me, Truck Spirit?"

Stunned by the absurd voice coming from the speaker, Ji-eun put down her sandwich and continued with a bewildered expression.

"Would you eat if I invited you?"

<Huh?>

"No, I mean, you're not even human, and how could a truck eat a sandwich? Should I put it in the oil tank or something?"

<Oh, right. I haven't manifested yet. I forgot.>

"Huh? Manifest?"

Confused by the sudden words, Ji-eun had a puzzled look on her face. At the same time, a bright light began to flicker on the table where the sandwich was placed.

Startled, Ji-eun took a step back without realizing it. As the bright light gradually faded, a small black cat appeared.

"A cat…?"

<When I manifest, I usually take the form that suits my owner's taste, but a small cat… Well, it is cute, I guess.>

"Wow!"

Seeing the spirit start grooming itself with its small paws, Ji-eun covered her mouth with her hand, moved by its adorable appearance.

The small black cat, while grooming itself, looked at Ji-eun. Its eyes were as black as its fur.

When Ji-eun reached out her hand, the black cat jumped onto her and nestled into her embrace.

<To be so affectionate on our first meeting, I didn't think I was that…>

"Yeah, Kkamang. This is where we make food."

<…?>

Calling her 'Kkamang,' a strange name, the spirit was shocked and froze. However, Ji-eun said with a regretful but resigned expression.

"Sorry, no animals allowed in here."

As soon as she held the cat, Ji-eun rushed out of the cooking area and placed the cat on the ground outside the truck.

While brushing off the fur on her clothes, Ji-eun was watched by the spirit, who said in disbelief.

<You're banning me from entering because I'm an animal?>

"Of course. Who would want to eat food made in a kitchen where cat fur is flying around?"

<But there are no customers right now?>

"Shh! No way. Even for a moment, look at the fur on me. Absolutely no entry to the kitchen!"

<That's so unfair…>

The spirit, speaking with a cold expression as if it were really a cat, poked a small stone in front of it with its cute paws.

For a moment, Ji-eun's heart wavered, but she remained firm.

"No entry to the kitchen!"

<Then where should I be? I even manifested!>

"Is there anything difficult about manifesting?"

<Why are you asking that?>

"If there is, we can just talk through the speaker. Of course, I like your current form better…."

<It feels good to be outside after a long time.>

"Then how about you stay next to the cash register? I'll make a spot for you there later."

Ji-eun, trying to compromise, suggested the cash register area, which was not directly involved in food preparation.

"To be honest, I've always wanted to keep a cat. But my circumstances didn't allow it…."

<Why didn't your circumstances allow it?>

"I've been living with my grandmother since I was young. My parents passed away when I was two. Honestly, I don't even remember their faces… I only saw them in photos."

<…>

"And my grandmother passed away when I was in the third year of middle school. Since then, I've been living alone."

<…Um… What should I say… I…>

Ji-eun smiled calmly at the hesitant spirit.

"No, it's okay. The time I spent with my grandmother is a very good memory for me. So even when I was alone, I didn't feel lonely."

<…Your grandmother must have been a good person.>

"Yeah, she was the one I loved the most. I learned to cook and developed an interest in it thanks to her. But when I came home after night school and found no one there, it was a bit lonely."

<Why didn't you try keeping a pet?>

"…If I had a cat…"

Ji-eun's voice became slightly melancholic.

"It could have lived a happy life, receiving all the love it deserved. But it would have to wait for its owner, who comes home at 10 PM after school, all day long, all alone."

<…>

"That would… be too sorry."

Hearing Ji-eun's voice, which sounded so lonely, the spirit approached and rubbed against her leg, clinging to her.

"By the way, what's your name?"

<…Kkamang.>

"Huh?"

<You called me Kkamang, didn't you?>

"No, I meant your real name."

<Kkamang is fine.>

Looking down at the meowing cat, Ji-eun squatted and met its eyes, smiling widely.

"Okay, Kkamang. I've always wanted to name a black cat Kkamang."

<If you like it, I do too.>

"Can I hold you one more time?"

<Whenever you want.>

With permission, Ji-eun reached out and held Kkamang, gently stroking its head.

Feeling the gentle touch, Kkamang completely relaxed, closed its eyes, and began to purr. Grateful, Ji-eun couldn't help but shed tears, sobbing quietly.

Kkamang, with its eyes closed, gently swayed its tail, patting Ji-eun's back.

After a while, Ji-eun wiped away the last of her tears, pretending it was nothing, and opened her eyes.

The quest window in the system was flashing, indicating a new notification.

<It seems the quest is complete.>

"Really? Should I check it out?"

– The preparation for starting business, including menu selection and ingredient preparation, is complete!

– Now, all that's left is to turn the prepared ingredients into delicious food and sell them to customers!

– Start your business and welcome your first customer!

To ensure a smooth start, you need to attract customers now and make a lot of money!

– New Quest: Sell food to 10 customers (0/10)

– Tutorial Completion Reward

Class-specific skill/item draw (1 time)

"Sell food to customers?"

<What's the problem? The food you made looked really delicious.>

"Meow? You're really a cat, aren't you?"

<Hehe… It was a mistake.>

"Ahaha. A mistake? Not an instinct?"

<Don't tease me! It's been too long since I spoke from this body!>

As Kkamang gradually became more like a real cat, adding 'meow' to the end of its sentences, Ji-eun found it incredibly cute and chuckled, stroking Kkamang's back.

"Only 10 customers! And look at this. It says I get a draw for a class-specific skill or item?"

<The tutorial is easy because it only gives one draw.>

"Are there harder quests?"

<That, I don't know. But since the preparation is complete, let's quickly start welcoming customers.>

"Got it!"

Saying that, Ji-eun closed the truck's cooking area and checked the time on her phone.

It was 1:30 PM, past the lunch hour.

The office workers in Yeouido were likely back in their offices, longing for the freedom of quitting time.

"Kkamang! Get in the passenger seat! Let's go for a drive?"

<Drive?>

"To get customers, we need to go to a place with more people, so we might have to go a bit far. Let's go for a drive…."

<Owner, do you plan to sell in the dungeon?>

"Huh?"

<Even though this truck is bulletproof and immune to monster attacks, it's not safe from the dungeon's terrain and traps.>

"What… Oh!"

Kkamang's words reminded Ji-eun of something she had completely forgotten. For a moment, she hoped the information wasn't true.

– You can only do business inside the dungeon.

"…"

– You can only do business inside the dungeon.

– You can only do business inside the dungeon.

"Oh my…"

The message that she could only do business inside the dungeon meant she had to enter the terrifying dungeon with the truck.

The dungeon, where at least one and sometimes over ten people disappeared daily.

Where almost no one who disappeared ever returned alive, and countless lives had been lost, with no end in sight.

A place where, as a food truck owner with no combat skills, she would have to do business.

Realizing this, Ji-eun fell into a panic, but the system did not allow it.

The system window, which appeared clearly in front of her, was a clear reminder.

Seeing the time limit gradually decreasing, Ji-eun's body froze with tension.

Her mind went blank, unable to process the situation, and she tried to act normal, but her body couldn't stop shaking.

‘Don’t yearn for a different world; live a normal life.’

‘Grandma, why a Hunter?’

‘To keep you alive, my dear.’

‘Huh…?’

‘…My dear, you need to survive. Do you understand? Answer me.’

‘…Hehe. I understand, Grandma. Actually, I like cooking with you. Let’s live a long, long time together!’

‘Of course, of course. Where would I go without my dear? ’

Why the conversation with her grandmother from long ago was flashing through her mind, she didn't know. Sitting in the driver's seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly, Ji-eun's body was trembling.

"What… What should I do…!"

<It's okay.>

Kkamang, who had climbed into her lap, raised its paw and gently stroked Ji-eun's hand.

<Trust me and trust this truck.>

"…Really?"

<Many people will need your help in the future.>

Kkamang nodded seriously.

<You've already taken something from the dungeon, that vile place.>